Barbecuing in some form or another may have been around since our caveman ancestors discovered fire but that doesn't mean grills haven't evolved over the ages.
From slow-cooking entire animals on spits to hotly contested pitmaster championships, the world's love affair with the humble Barbie shows no sign of dying down. Since the birth of charcoal kettle BBQs in the early 50s, the scene has expanded to include gas-powered models, dual-fuel wonders and electric indoor grills.
In the Smart age, BBQ grills are finally getting the hi-tech treatment, transmitting details like internal temperature over Wi-Fi so you can cook remotely if you wish. Some are also fitted with self-cleaning modes making post-feast cleaning up less of an ordeal, which can only be good news whatever kind of barbecuer you happen to be.
While flipping burgers is fun at first (and means you have a cast iron excuse to avoid making small talk with surprise guests), it doesn’t mean you want to spend the whole day infusing your hair and clothes with Eau de BBQ.
Smart features mean BBQ kings and queens are no longer chained to the grill for the duration and can grab a drink, kick their feet up and chat with friends, family and curious neighbours as the machine gets on with the very important business of cooking the al fresco feast.
Best smart BBQs at a glance:
- Best for outdoor kitchens: Traeger Timberline UK Wood Pellet Smart BBQ - £2999.99, John Lewis
- Best for ceramic grilling with bells on: Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal WiFi Grill & Smoker - £1989, Amazon
- Best for smart features: Traeger Pro D2 575 WiFi Connected Wood Pellet BBQ, Black - £899, John Lewis
- Best for app wizardry: Weber Genesis II EX-335 Smart BBQ - £1999, Fenwick
- Best for self-cleaning: Char-Broil SMART-E Electric BBQ - £679.99, John Lewis
- Best for versatility: Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker OG701UK - £274.29, Amazon
- Best for invite-everyone cook-outs: Char-Broil Evolve Gas BBQ - £739.99, Amazon
It’s an emerging category with trailblazer brands leading the charge: think Kamado Joe, Traeger and Char-Broil. That said, we sense it’s a route all the leading names in BBQ will follow, so keep checking back to this list where you’ll find essential info on all the machines worth knowing.
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Traeger Timberline UK Wood Pellet Smart BBQ, Black
Best for: outdoor kitchens
- Cooking space: 5677cm square
- Fuel type: wood pellets
- Weight: 107.9kg
If you're trying to complete other jobs but would like a BBQ lunch when you're finished, Traeger has your cook in the bag. Its smart BBQ is named the Timberline and comes packed with game-changing features, from wireless thermometers and pellet sensors to an intuitive touchscreen display and simple controls that can be monitored from an app. It means you can crack on with some gardening or relax with a spot of fishing while keeping an eye on your barbecue feast.
There are clever smoking modes to deepen food’s flavour and it’s made with dual walls to maintain a consistent cooking temperature.
The grill comes with an induction hob to help make sides like beans, corn on the cob, and gravy and there's more storage than you can shake a BBQ prong at. As well as headline features, there are smaller thoughtful details to love, like a removable magnetic bamboo cutting board and shelves.
Buy now £2999.99, John Lewis
Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal WiFi Grill & Smoker
Best for: ceramic grilling with bells on
- Cooking space: 250 sq inches
- Fuel type: charcoal
- Weight: 113kg
As one of the leading lights in ceramic BBQs, Kamado Joe is a brand familiar to any self-respecting barbecue enthusiast. It uses a thick ceramic shell to encourage airflow and insulate heat, allowing chefs to cook in high and low temperatures while keeping moisture locked in - resulting in juicy, tender cuts (no more dried-out bangers or wings for you).
The machine is fitted with a 'Kontrol Board' into which you'll tap in the temperature required and cook mode. An Automatic Firestarter ignites the charcoal via a heating element and airflow is maintained through a digital fan so you can keep the lid closed without worrying about the fire going out.
The grate is huge with enough space to fit 13 burger patties or four chickens. Catering for a crowd? No one will go hungry with this bad boy in the garden.
Buy now £1989.00, Amazon
Traeger Pro D2 575 WiFi Connected Wood Pellet BBQ, Black
Best for: smart features
- Cooking space: 3710 sq cm
- Fuel type: wood pellets
- Weight: 55.8kg
Got a family to feed? Traeger calls in the big guns with this BBQ smoker which can be controlled and monitored remotely from an app. This hi-tech version of cooking means you're no longer tethered to your machine for the duration and can kick back with your guests knowing that the food is taken care of. The WiFi element only works when the BBQ is plugged into the mains so be sure you can extend your cables around the garden first.
The grill grates are finished with a porcelain coating, making them wonderfully easy to clean and there is a built-in meat probe to help you work out if your food is ready.
Buy now £899.00, John Lewis
Weber Genesis II EX-335 Smart BBQ
Best for: app wizardry
- Cooking space: 4254 cm square
- Fuel type: Liquid petroleum gas
- Weight: 84.822kg
Weber has been making covetable barbecues since its original kettle model in 1951. Now a world leader in high-performance grilling, the Weber EX-Genesis marks a new wave for the brand.
The machine works through an app packed with guided programs like steak cooking modes for the perfect level of 'doneness'. A meat probe not only gives you an accurate internal reading but the app will also recommend exactly where to place your cut on the grill.
It really couldn’t be easier as the app even sends notifications when it’s time to flip and when your dish has reached its optimal temperature for serving.
The heat temperatures Weber's Genesis can reach deserve a special shoutout, with sear zones and three 11.4kW high heat burners to create the flame-licked feast of your dreams. There's under-grill and side storage and the buttons light up too, making after-dark cookouts a possibility.
Finally, the integrated grease management system helps keep it in tip-top shape through a season of summer hosting.
Buy now £1999.00, Fenwick
Char-Broil SMART-E Electric BBQ
Best for: self-cleaning
- Dimensions: H114.2 x W54.5 x D121cm
- Fuel type: electric
- Weight: 62.6kg
There's no need to remember to get enough fuel in or wait ages for the grill to heat up; this smart BBQ runs on electric power. Heat is distributed evenly over the grate using TRU‑Infrared Technology for balanced searing and juicier results, and there's also a temperature control to tweak the heat between 90°C and 370°C.
A standout feature is the storage space underneath to keep cooking oils and ingredients or utensils so you have everything you need to hand. Castor wheels allow you to move it over patios and decks easily while a 3.4m cable aids freedom of setting.
But the niftiest feature by far is the self-cleaning aspect. Yes, Char-Broil has included an Auto Clean function which burns off residue by pyrolysis. Once it's complete, simply brush down the grates and it's ready for the next time you fancy a BBQ.
Buy now £679.99, John Lewis
Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker OG701UK
Best for: versatility
- Cooking space: 28 x 37cm
- Fuel type: mains
- Weight: 12kg
Ninja’s Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker combines the high-crunch, low-fat charms of air frying with another cooking method favourite - barbecuing.
Using real wood pellets in an integrated smoke box, the machine can flavour all sorts of meats and veggies through the smoker, alongside six other cooking functions - including air fry. It’s made to be used outdoors but the 1.6m power cord means you’ll need to stick pretty close to mains power unless you’ve got a generator for camping trips.
Still, for big entertainers and throwers of garden parties, it's a gizmo that can do all your cooking for you. No more to-ing and fro-ing to the kitchen and hauling trays out of the oven: the Woodfire can sizzle sausages, crisp up chicken wings and make pork ribs and extra tenders all in one machine, and make the potato wedges and smoked corn too.
Most persuasive review?: “This grill is SO much less faff than a BBQ, it’s so much easier and quicker to clean which is a big deal to me as I hate the clean up after a BBQ. It’s quicker to heat, safer to use, has more control (no more food charred on the outside and raw on the inside) and more cooking options than any other outdoor cooking option I know of.”
Buy now £274.29, Amazon
Char-Broil Evolve Gas BBQ
Best for: invite-everyone cook-outs
- Cooking space: 62cm x 43cm
- Fuel type: gas
- Weight: 50kg
Imagine getting perfect results every time you fire up the BBQ. That's just what you're getting with Char-Broil's Evolve design which cooks meats and veggies over two grilling zones at a maximum temperature of 130C. Simply sling in your ingredients and use the app to set your temperature and timer - and let it do its thing. While you fix yourself a drink or welcome guests, the grill will start cooking the feast, and you can keep an eye on things through a smartphone app.
TRU-Infrared Technology is also there to assist with succulent results and there's an auto-clean feature to make clean-up easier than you could imagine.
Buy now £739.99, Amazon
